Punjab Cabinet yesterday gave its not to amend Excise Act to enable hotels, clubs to serve liquor near highways.

The Punjab government on Monday found a way to enable hotels, restaurants and clubs to serve alcohol within 500 meters of highways. The Supreme Court in April had ordered to stop sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and state highways from April 1.

The Punjab Cabinet yesterday gave its nod to a proposal to amend Section 26-A of Punjab Excise Act, 1914 which will remove all ambiguities for serving of liquor at hotels, restaurants by adding provisions whereby it is cleared that no retail vend would be opened within 500 meter of the national and state highways.

The amendment would fix the location of liquor vends on national and state highways.

However, these restrictions shall not apply to the hotels, restaurants and clubs situated on national and state highways, an official release said.

The Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, gave a go-ahead to the draft amendment bill, 2017, in this regard, to be tabled during the current Budget session for enactment.

The Cabinet gave its formal approval to the budgetary proposals to be presented by Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal in the state Assembly tomorrow.